Arrows – My Album Of The Year

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited about an album. Of course, being a huge fan of Polly Scattergood’s for a number of years I kind of knew I’d like her latest, Arrows.

But ‘like’ is really the wrong. I love it. It’s special. It’s magic. It’s one of those albums – and there are very few – where every single one of its songs is wonderful, and where every one of them could easily be a single. It’s that good.

There’s a beautiful depth throughout, the words feel right and considered and true (Miss You breaks the heart in exactly the right way, and Machines is simply majestic). There’s texture and colour and some out and out get me on the dance floor moments (you, not me – I’m a terrible dancer) and, everything fits together the way it should. It’s not simply a collection of really terrific, affecting, wonderfully written, produced and performed songs (it’s that too, of course) – it’s a wonderful whole. It’s early days yet, but it might even be as close to a perfect album as you’re likely to get. A great, great album and, without doubt, my album of the year. The sort of album, in fact, that makes you go the long way to places, just so you can squeeze in an extra couple of songs. I’ll be honest, I’ve been talking my iPod out with me, even for the two minute walk to the shop. I give it 5 stars. I’d give it 6 if I could.